If former Jackson County District Judge James Justin is convicted of one or more of the felony counts he faces, he could lose his pension, according to a state statute.

A "member or retirant" who is convicted of a felony arising of his or her service as a public employee "is considered to have breached the public trust," the law states. As a result, the employee "may have his or her rights to an otherwise vested retirement benefit and all accumulated contributions standing to that person's credit in the retirement system forfeited."

This law does apply to judges, confirmed Joy Yearout, a spokeswoman for Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette's office.

Yearout said the law does not guarantee Justin, if convicted, would lose his retirement benefits. "It says 'may,' not 'shall,'" she said of the law. This means what would happen to Justin's pension would be up to the sentencing judge, she said. "It suggests there is discretion."